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Freer Consulting Blog: Compliance, Standards & Environmental InsightsAs we covered in a prior post, incorporating a standard, such as API, into your business practices greatly improves your ability to assess and manage risk. Risk assessment reduces costs, improves customer satisfaction, and opens up new business opportunities. There are a number of standards that may apply to your business and industry.
Freer Consulting Blog: Compliance, Standards & Environmental InsightsThe dry season is upon us in the Puget Sound region. If you are a stormwater permittee, you may be tempted to relax your implementation of stormwater best management practices (BMPs). However, it is just as important to keep up with your BMPs during the summer as you would in any other season.
Freer Consulting Blog: Compliance, Standards & Environmental InsightsAny organization, regardless of industry, size, or sector, deals with risk. Risk can vary in type, severity, and degree of certainty, but when it’s uncontrolled, negative consequences, whether economic, environmental, societal, or other, are likely. It is impossible to eliminate all risk—the world is full of uncertainties—but we can take steps to minimize
Freer Consulting Blog: Compliance, Standards & Environmental InsightsA new Industrial Stormwater General Permit (ISGP) is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2015. Permit holders, who receive coverage under the ISGP, must reapply for coverage by July 1, 2014. To reapply, complete a new Notice of Intent (NOI) online or download and fill out the NOI form. The changes to
Freer Consulting Blog: Compliance, Standards & Environmental InsightsBusinesses in the City of Seattle that have a stormwater treatment facility in place may be eligible for the Stormwater Facility Credit Program (SFCP). This credit allows qualifying businesses to save money on their drainage fees as part of their annual King County taxes. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) developed the SFCP to encourage
Freer Consulting Blog: Compliance, Standards & Environmental InsightsWashington permit holders, who receive coverage under the Industrial Stormwater General Permit (ISGP), are required to submit an annual report to the Department of Ecology. This report is due May 15, 2014. The annual report includes information about any stormwater events at your facility during 2013 (for example, spills that could have affected
Freer Consulting Blog: Compliance, Standards & Environmental InsightsThe Clean Boatyard Program provides an opportunity for boatyards to attract and maintain customers while demonstrating a commitment to the environment. This voluntary program, which was created by partners in the public and private sectors, encourages boatyards to implement and maintain sound environmental practices. The Clean Boating Foundation provides two levels of certification
Freer Consulting Blog: Compliance, Standards & Environmental InsightsIn this day and age, potential customers and regulatory authorities expect good environmental stewardship. To encourage this, partners in the public and private sectors created the Certified Clean Marina program. This program, which has been adopted by numerous marinas, helps you create a cleaner, safer community and demonstrates your environmental leadership to customers.
Freer Consulting Blog: Compliance, Standards & Environmental InsightsIf your firm operates commercial vessels that are longer than 79 feet, with discharges (e.g., ballast water, stormwater runoff, etc.) into U.S. waters, those vessels are subject to coverage under the 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) as of December 19, 2013. As part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), the VGP